The UFC middleweight title is on the line in Chicago this weekend. Photo: Getty
UFC 319
Du Plessis vs Chimaev
Sunday 17 August
United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
While one was deemed not championship calibre, the other has been touted for gold since his octagon debut.
It's the unsolvable puzzle against the irresistible force in the highly anticipated middleweight title fight between champion Dricus du Plessis and undefeated challenger Khamzat Chimaev has
Dricus Du Plessis (23-2) is on an 11-fight winning streak, having previously defeated Sean Strickland and Israel Adesanya to secure the middleweight title.
Ugly, unorthodox, awkward.
Plenty of superlatives have been used to describe DDP's striking style.
But the most important - effective.
The South African has used his unconventional methods to dispatch of the greatest middleweights the game has to offer.
From Israel Adesanya to Robert Whittaker and Sean Stickland, his list of victims reads like a Hall of Fame class.
However, his toughest test to date awaits in the form of 'Borz.'
The undefeated phenom, pressure incarnate, a suffocating force, Chimaev (14-0) exploded onto the UFC scene in 2020, amassing three wins in a record 66 days.
His ascension was abruptly halted by a serious bout of Covid-19 which nearly cost him his life.
But Borz is back and once again ready to "kill everybody."
In typical Chimaev fashion, he spoke few words in the week leading up to the bout.
"It's my time to take-over the UFC. I'm just going to go and f*** him up."
Du Plessis on the other hand, renowned as one of the coldest trash talkers in the sport, was relatively reserved, though did react to Chimaev's words that he was willing to die in the octagon on Sunday.
"I certainly hope so because if he's not he's in for the worst night of his life."
With the crowd vehemently against him, Du Plessis showed no signs of fear.
He's never going to get the belt while I'm here. It's not about my opponent, it's about defending that belt, that's all that matters to me."
In terms of difficult fights to pick, it doesn't get much tougher than this.
A relentless wrestler against pure and unpredictable power, DDP has proven more than capable on the ground, but Borz will be a different beast should he drag DDP to the canvas and take control.
Expect a bloody, bruising, and brutal barnburner.
UFC 319 Main Card
- Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev for the UFC middleweight champion
- Aaron Pico vs Lerone Murphy at Featherweight
- Geoff Neal vs Carlos Prates at Welterweight
- Jared Cannonier vs. Michael "Venom" Page at Middleweight
- Tim Elliott vs Kai Asakura at Flyweight
- Jessica Andrade vs Loopy Godinez at Strawweight
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